Albany is the regional capital of Western Australia’s Great Southern — a city of approximately 38,000 at the confluence of Princess Royal Harbour and Oyster Harbour, 410km southeast of Perth. WA’s oldest European settlement (1826, predating the Swan River Colony), Albany has evolved from a whaling port and wool depot into a diversified regional economy anchored by the Port of Albany, Bunnings Warehouse Group (major local employer), tourism, agriculture (wool, grain, canola, horticulture), and a growing renewable energy sector. The Albany Wind Farm (Emu Point) and the Grasmere Wind Farm were among Australia’s early commercial wind developments, and the region’s wind resources continue to attract clean energy investment. For property investors, Albany offers a large, liquid regional market by WA standards, strong yields relative to Perth, a healthcare and education employment base through Albany Health Campus, and lifestyle demand that drives steady tree-change migration from Perth.
Albany WA Market Snapshot 2026
Tree-Change Demand: Perth to Albany Pipeline
Albany’s single most significant long-term demand driver is internal WA migration — Perth residents seeking lifestyle, space, and relative affordability who relocate permanently or semi-permanently to the Great Southern. Albany’s combination of a large natural harbour, established CBD, quality healthcare (Albany Health Campus is a major regional hospital with significant specialist services), good schools, and daily flights to Perth via Rex and Airnorth makes it the most liveable large regional centre in WA south of the Wheatbelt. This tree-change migration drives both the owner-occupier and the rental market — professionals who have relocated for lifestyle still need a year or two of renting before purchasing, and not all migrants intend to buy. The Albany Health Campus alone employs several hundred clinical and support staff, many of whom are recruited from Perth and other states and need rental accommodation on arrival. WA’s tight rental market (Perth vacancy rates have been below 1% through much of 2023–2025) has pushed some housing demand southward to regional WA, benefiting Albany directly.
Albany is WA’s most underrated regional investment — a city large enough for real liquidity, diversified enough to not panic when commodity prices move, and consistently attractive enough to Perth migrants to generate genuine long-term housing demand.
One Property at a time
Brick by Brick 🧱
General Advice Warning: This article is general in nature and does not constitute personal financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial adviser before making investment decisions.
